Carpet-stretcher.



PATENTED AUG. 13, 1907.

G. 0. BOOK. CARPET STRETGHER.

APPLICATION FILED JAN.5.190'7.

ER {aw s (Kw, w & r U m \N wfi QT A w UNITED STATES GOTTLOB 0. BOOK, OF LEBANON, KANSAS CARPET-STRETCHEB.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aug. 13, 1907.

Application filed January 5,1907. Serial No. 350.997.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, Go'r'rton 0. Been, a citizen of the United States, residing at Lebanon, in the county of Smith and State of Kansas, have invented a new and useful Carpet-Stretcher, of which the following is a specification.

.his invention relates to a carpet stretcher of that type in which the handle or body is composed of a plurality of hingedly connected sections arranged to permit of a toggle action for the purpose of exerting a draft or stretching effect on the carpet and hold the latter in stretched position during the driving of the tacks.

The invention has for one of its objects to improve and simplify the construction and operation of devices of this character, so as to be comparatively inexpensive and easy to manufacture, capable of ready manipulation, and highly efficient and reliable in use.

A further object of the invention is to provide a carpet stretcher having a handle or body composed of hingedly connected sections arranged to be conveniently folded together in a small space when not in use, the sections being extensible so as to lengthen the handle, when desired.

A further object of the invention is the employment of a removable head which is attached to the handle of the stretcher by means of dowels which may serve as teeth when the head is removed, so that the stretcher can be used in corners of a room, or in other close quarters where the head is not so readily adaptable.

With these objects in view, and others, as will appear as the nature of the invention is better understood, the invention comprises the various novel features of construction and arrangement of parts, which will be more fully described hereinafter and set forth with particularity in the claims appended hereto.

In the accompanying drawing, which illustrates one of the embodiments of the invention, Figure 1 is a perspective view of the stretcher showing the handle or body portion thereof partly extended, and two of the sections in position for operation. Fig. 2 is a side elevation of the device showing sections in folded position. Fig. 3 is an enlarged detail view, partly in section and plan, of the hinged ends of two adjacent sections of the handle. I

Corresponding parts in the several figures are indicated throughout by similar characters of reference.

Referring to the drawing, A designates the handle or body of the stretcher composed of a plurality of pairs of sections 1 and 2, and B the head having the teeth 3, or equivalent means, for biting into the carpet. The head B, which is somewhat elongated in a direction transverse to the length of the handle, is removably secured to the handle A by means of pointed pins 4 projecting from one end of the handle and extending into the head.

In using the stretcher in close quarters where the head is not available, the latter can be removed and the pointed pins used as carpet engaging portions for taking hold of the carpet, the said pins being suitably shaped for thispurpose.

The several sections of the handle are arranged end for end and are connected by alternately arranged hinges 5 and 6. These hinges have removable pintles 7 for the purpose of permitting sections to be taken out or added to the handle to shorten or lengthen the same according to the dimensions of the room in which the carpet is to be laid. In the present instance, all of the sections, excepting that to which the head is attached, are extensible, also for the purpose of lengthening or shortening the handle and to vary the range of the toggle action of any pair of sections. To this end, each of the said sections is composed of two spaced members 8 and a central member 9 disposed between them and having a telescoping relation therewith. Each central member is provided with a collar 10 which encompasses the outer members 8 and is slidable along the same so as to hold the central member in position at one end. The opposite end of the central member of each section is held in place by a ferrule 11 suitably secured to the outer members of the said section at one end. The opposite end of each section from the ferrule 11 is provided with a ferrule 12 which cooperates with the said ferrule 11 to hold the members 8 properly spaced apart and rigidly connected The telescoping members of any section are adjust-ably held in any desired position by a clamping screw 13, one of which is clearly shown in Fig. 3. The inner end of the clamping screw is provided with a swiveled plate 14 to give a large bearing surface on the middle member 9, and the outer end is formed with a knurled head 15 forming lingerpiece. The members of the hinges 5 and 6 are formed each on one ferrule 12, and on the adjacent ends of the middle member 9, so that the middle members of the several sections are hingedly connected with the outer members 8 of the adjacent sections. Pintle receiving eyes 16 are provided on the ferrule 12, and cooperating therewith is a pintle receiving eye 17 on the leaf 18 of the hinge, which is secured to the middle member of the handle sections. The hinges 5 are arranged so as to permit the two sections connected thereby to fold or collapse upwardly, and in order to prevent the sections from collapsing after they have been completely unfolded, or opened, a lock device is provided at each hinge 5. This comprises a leaf spring 19 shaped in the form of a latch having a hook 20 adapted to enter an opening 21 in the adjacent ferrule 12, which opening constitutes a catch for the latch. The springs 19 are each extended beyond the offsets or hooks 20, so as to form finger-holds 22, whereby the latches can be taken hold of and released. The hinge or hinges 6 between each pair of sections is adapted to collapse in the opposite direction from the hinges 5, but since the floor will preventthe hinge 6 from collapsing when the stretcher is in position, no locking device is required. In order, however, to prevent the hinge 6 from buckling upwardly from the lioor when pressure is applied to the stretcher, the middle member 9 connected with the hinge 6 is provided with abutments 23 having arms which project laterally on opposite sides thereof and cooperate with the ends of the members 8 of the adjacent section 2 of the handle A to insure alinement of the sections, as clearly shown in Fig. 3.

From the foregoing description, taken in connection with the accompanying drawings, the advantages of the construction and of the method of operation will be readily apparent to those skilled in the art to which the invention appertains.

In rising the device, the desired number of sections are selected according to the size of the room in which the structure is to be used. 13y taking out one of the pintles 7, one or more pairs of sections 1 and 2 can be added or taken out of the handle. Assuming that the carpet has been raised on the floor and tacked in place at one edge, the stretcher is then placed in position with the end opposite from the head abutting the base board of the room at the tacked edge of the carpet, or any other suitable abutment, while the teeth of the head are engaged in the carpet at the edge to be tacked. To effect the proper adjustment of the sections so as to obtain the desired draft on the carpet, the parts of any one or more sections are extended or contracted, as desired. Any pair of sections 1 and 2 may be employed to act as toggle links. The parts of these sections will be so adjusted that the carpet will be properly stretched when the two sections constituting the toggle are complctely opened or extended. When the sections are in the position shown in Fig. 1, pressure is applied to the two sections at the right end of the device, so that they will be straightened out and cause the carpet to be stretched. When they are completely straightened out, the catch 19 will be locked in place so as to prevent the two sections lrom collapsing. The operator can now tack down. the carpet at points adjacent the head of the stretcher, alter which the stretcher is taken out and applied to another portion of the carpet, and the operation thus repeated until all the edges of the carpet are stretched and tacked. When the operator is through with the device, the clamping screws 13 are unfastened and the members of the sections contracted to their minimum length and then clamped in this position by the screws. The several sections are then folded to the position shown in Fig. 2, so as to occupy comparatively little space and be convenient to carry about.

What is claimed is:, j

1. A device of the character described embodying a plurality of sections comprising inner and outer slidable members, hinges arranged alternately on the upper and lower sides of the respective sections and pivotally connecting their proximate ends, latches arranged at the upper sides of those ends of the sections on which the hinges are arranged at the under side and serving to prevent folding of the sections when the stretcher is extended, and an abutment attached to the inner member of one section and having arms projecting laterally therefrom to cooperate with the adjacent ends of the outer members of a cooperating section for insuring alinement of the latter.

2. In a carpet stretcher, a plurality of hingedly connected sections, and locking devices embodying spring latches arranged at alternate hinged connections and op; erating automatically when the sections are extended for preventing the latter from collapsing.

3. In a carpet stretcher, a plurality of handle sections, alternately arranged hinges connecting the sections together, automatically operating locking devices at certain of the hinges for preventing the latter from opening, and a head attached to one of the sections.

-l. A carpet stretcher embodying a set of sections each having a pair of outer members, and an intermediate slidable member, hinges connecting the intermediate member of one section with the outer members of a cooperating section to permit relative pivotal movement of the sections, and an abutment arranged on the intermediate member of one section and having laterally projecting arms extending transversely across the proximate ends of the outer members on the adjacent section for insuring alinement of the sections.

5. In a carpet stretcher, a plurality of handle sections each composed of spaced outer members and a central member arranged in telescoping relation therewith, means at one end of each central member for slidably connecting the same to the adjacent outer members, a clamping device for holding the members of each section in any desired position, a hinge between each central member and the outer member of adjacent sections, and ferrules on the ends of the outer members of the sections for holding them spaced apart.

(3. In a carpet stretcher, a plurality of handle sections each composed oi spaced outer members and a central member arranged in telescoping relation therewith, means at one end of each central member for slidably connecting the same to the adjacent outer members, a clamping device for holding the members of each section in any desired position, a hinge between each central member and the outer member of adjacent sections, a lock device at certain of the hinges for preventing the latter from collapsing, and means at the other hinges for preventing the latter from collapsing in the direction opposite from that in which the other hinges open.

In testimony that I claim the foregoing as my own, I have hereto aflixed my signature in the presence of two -\vitncsses.

GOTTLOB 0. BOOK.

Witnesses E. HUME 'lnnnmrr, (lrnvr'rrn Bmnwny. 

